From the moment Ayaka Miura dropped to atomweight in 2024, Chihiro Sawada could see where things were heading.
Two of Japan's best women's MMA fighters, converging on the same title shot in the same division. A collision was only a matter of time. Sawada spent that time preparing for it.
"Since the time that she dropped down in weight, I thought eventually we would have an all-Japanese matchup," she said. "So, I've always been prepared to fight her at any time."
That fight arrives on Wednesday, April 29, at ONE SAMURAI 1, live from Ariake Arena in Tokyo on pay-per-view via live.onefc.com. The winner moves within reach of ONE Atomweight MMA World Champion Denice Zamboanga and the title shot Sawada has been building toward since joining the promotion.
The 28-year-old carries an 11-1 record and a three-fight winning streak into this bout, including a unanimous decision over Natalie Salcedo in January. Her foundation is wrestling and she is the inaugural Shooto Atomweight Champion, but she has evolved well beyond it. The striking that once served primarily as a takedown setup has developed into a genuine threat in its own right.
"My fighting style is probably using my strong wrestling ability in positions where I can dominate and combining it with striking," she said. "Since wrestling is my foundation, I train every day focusing on striking to set up my wrestling."
Miura presents a specific set of problems. The "Ayaka Lock" — a kesa-gatame scarf-hold that has finished opponents at every level — is the obvious concern, but Sawada has studied the full picture and identified where she believes she holds the edge.
"She's a fighter who can impose her strength and specialty. Also, she's incredibly flexible — her shoulders are very flexible. Her strengths are the Ayaka Lock, her judo throws, and her hip strength," she said. "As for weaknesses, her striking is a bit behind, and she doesn't move laterally as much. I believe my overall MMA ability is better since MMA includes striking, so I think I have the advantage there."
As for the submission itself, Sawada is direct. She has watched it catch opponents who prepared specifically to avoid it, and she has no intention of being added to that list.
"Everyone knows about the 'Ayaka Lock,' but they still get caught in it. I don't want to get caught in it. I've prepared for it, and I don't think I will get caught," she said. "But anything can happen in a fight, so I want to disrupt her game to the point where she can't even think about the 'Ayaka Lock.'"
The title shot she expected this fight to be turned out to be one step removed from it. Sawada has accepted that without complaint. The goal has not changed.
"I've always wanted to win the title, and since joining ONE, I've been aiming for the belt. My goal hasn't changed — to win a title in ONE as a Japanese female fighter," she said.
